She glanced at him, at his tight expression. “You spoke your mind as usual and since that’s something I’ve always liked about you, it would be wrong of me to find fault with it when your view disagrees with mine.”
“I just don’t see you being happy with him, Sophia.” He looked her squarely in the eye for a second before turning his gaze away, but it was enough for her to glimpse the incomprehension he felt with regard to her engagement.
“Why not?” she asked. “We’ve known each other most of our lives, have shared every up and down, and understand each other well enough for me to be certain we’ll always be able to solve our differences.”
“That’s not enough.”
“How can you say that?” Once again his comment poked at her doubts and put her on edge. “Edward is easy for me to talk to. With him I always know what to expect.”
“In other words,” Jack remarked, “he’s the safe option.”
“No,” she told him hotly, “he is the only option. No one else has ever asked and I cannot afford to sit and wait for them to do so.”
“And because of this, you’ve decided to settle.”
God, how she wanted to swing her basket at his head, throw its contents at him until he ducked away or better yet, ran. “Edward’s a good man, Jack. The very finest, in fact. And as his friend – asmyfriend – your lack of support confounds me.”
“Maybe it is the very friendship you speak of that prompts me to say what no one else will, Sophia. You and Edward are wrong for each other. You will always be wrong for each other.” His voice grew in strength, his eyes flashing with stormy emotion while they both increased their speed as if each meant to outpace the other. “No matter how easy or practical marrying him may be, he will never be able to give you what you need just as you will never give him what he needs.”
She halted so she could glare at him properly. “What are you talking about?”
“You seek adventure while he’s always been the careful sort. As children, you were the one who suggested building a raft for the lake. Edward tried to talk you out of it because he believed a raft built by children would lead to disaster.”
In the end, Jack had helped her fulfill her vision while Edward, Felicity, and Kaitlin busied themselves with a game of cards. She placed her free hand on her hip. “There’s nothing wrong with being cautious. In fact, I’d say it will serve me well if my husband is able to temper my spirit a little.”
“Edward won’t temper it, though,” Jack told her. “That’s the problem. He’ll stifle you completely.”
She shook her head. “You’re mistaken.”
“Am I?” When she didn’t comment, he said, “You always liked to climb trees and build forts. He didn’t. When you suggested tying a rope to one of the branches hanging over the lake so we could launch ourselves into the water, he said it was time to go home. He is serious while you are not. If given the choice, he would rather stay home reading a book than join in a horse race or…or visit a tavern with friends.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being responsible.”
“Of course not, but Edward is like an octogenarian in a young body. He’s always been that way. There’s no playfulness about him the way there is with you.”
“Perhaps not,” she agreed. It was true Edward was stuffy and always more serious than she could ever be. “But he is dependable, which is more than I can say about you.”
“What?”
“How many times did I write you over the last four years?” When he opened his mouth she said, “Once a week, Jack. And you never wrote back. Never mind the fact that you stayed away. Not once did you come to visit even though London is not so terribly far.”
“You never came to see me either,” he countered.
“How could I? An unmarried woman does not go to London alone. To suggest that doing so was even an option is utter nonsense as well you know. But at least I wrote.” She pressed her fist to her breast and leaned toward him. “I wrote you, Jack. And you didn’t respond.”
4
Guilt duginto Jack and clawed at his conscience. She wasn’t wrong. He’d made no effort to keep in touch. Quite the contrary. At first, because he’d hoped to discourage her growing interest in him. Later, because he hadn’t known what to say. Time had made any answer he might pen feel awkward.
So he looked at her now, at the accusation in her eyes. There was hurt there as well, which was what truly pained him. He’d never intended to break her heart or crush her spirit. It occurred to him now he might have done so.
With Star’s reins clasped loosely in his hand, he said, “Forgive me, Sophia. The last four years have been busy for me.”
Her eyes hardened, holding his for a moment more before she gave a disdainful snort and started walking away from him once more. “Yes. I know. It’s a wonder you found the time to come here at all what with all the women climbing in and out of your bed.”
That she would address his love life so openly shocked him. He stared after her, unable to find the right words.
“You may disparage Edward for being a bore,” she added, “but at least he’s a gentleman. I’ve never had cause to question his moral compass, though I can’t say the same about you.”
